Clyde F. Helm 96, of Urbana died at 1:40 a.m. Saturday, December 6, 2008 at Meadowbrook Healthcare Center, Urbana.

Private graveside services will be held on Saturday, December 13, 2008 at Mt. Hope Mausoleum, Champaign. The Rev. Mike Smith will officiate. There will be no visitation. Renner-Wikoff Chapel and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Helm was born on July 1, 1912 in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, the son of George and Wilhelmina Seeck Helm. He married Stella Hazel Boyd on May 29, 1936 in Waukegan; she died on May 26, 2002.

Survivors include a daughter; Judith (Robert) Gustafson of Chicago and two granddaughters.

He was preceded in death by one sister.

Mr. Helm graduated from the University of Illinois. He represented New York Life Ins. Co. for 30 years, retiring as a Senior Nylic. He was the Business Manager for the Computer Science Department at the University of Illinois for 14 years.

He wrote insurance articles and sold material on fishing to national magazines. He enjoyed fly fishing, duck hunting, especially in the Illinois river area and carved over 60 decoys. He had a large vegetable garden and liked to try new varieties of plants.

Memorial contributions may be made to Champaign County Nursing Home Auxiliary.

Condolences may be offered at www.renner-wikoffchapel.com.